Breadcrumb Trail Links

Year of the Rat celebrations kick off at Kingsway Mall

Author of the article:

Jeff Labine

Publishing date:

January 26, 2020 • 2 minute read

Kim Berlee performs a "Thousand Hands" dance at Kingway Mall, where the Chinese Benevolent Association of Edmonton and the Edmonton Chinese Bilingual Education Association held a lunar new year celebration on Sunday February 3, 2019.Photo by Larry Wong/ POSTMEDIA NETWORK

Rats and Alberta have a complicated history.

The province implemented an aggressive rat control strategy in the 1950s, which saw the rodent eventually eliminated from Alberta’s borders about a decade later. However, the small creature is taking centre stage in 2020 and will be the main star during Sunday’s Year of the Rat Lunar New Year celebration at Kingsway Mall.

Distroscale

Also known as the Spring Festival, the event is being put on in partnership with the mall and the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA) of Edmonton.

Megan Tsang, co-organizer of the event and volunteer with the CBA, said Albertans shouldn’t be too harsh on the rat.

“If anything, they can call it the year of the mouse,” she said, jokingly. “Albertans don’t have to worry about that.”

The rat represents the start of the Chinese Zodiac 12-year cycle. Tsang said the rat became first in the cycle following a great race involving all of the Zodiac animals. This is why the ox, tiger and rabbit immediately follow the rat.

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

The rat represents renewal since it starts the cycle off again.

“People see it as a fresh start,” Tsang said. “It depends on your family on how much you read into it. I think because it is a year of renewal people will definitely look into maybe starting a new business or having more personal goals for themselves.”

Although Chinese New Year officially started on Saturday, Tsang said celebrations can last for months.

“It is one of the most important parts of the year,” she added. “Usually every weekend there’s something going on. Traditionally, back in Asia, it was the biggest celebration and it has translated to over here.”

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

The New Year’s celebration at Kingsway goes from noon to 5 p.m. throughout the main level with performances taking place at centre stage near HomeSense.

Bo Tarasenko, marketing manager for Kingsway, said this is the second time the mall has teamed up with the CBA to put on the festivities. He said thousands attended the event last year.

“We threw the main level of Kingsway into absolute chaos, it was fantastic,” he said. “I hope people attend and really celebrate the diversity of the community.”